Clerk Forces Babu Owino to Retake Oath of Office after Inserting Raila and 'Tibim' at the End

Embakasi MP Babu Owino was on Thursday forced to retake his oath office at the National Assembly after he added his own words in the oath by mentioning National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga and Tibim, a slogan largely associated with him and widely used by the opposition alliance during campaigns.

"I, Babu Owino, having been elected MP, do swear in the name of almighty God that I would bear true faith and allegiance to the people of the Republic of Kenya and Raila Odinga...that I will obey, respect uphold ... so help me God," Babu said.

National Assembly Clerk, who was presiding over the swearing-in ordered Babu to recite the oath which he did, but again he finished with the word 'Tibim'.

"I will obey, respect and uphold so help me God. Thank you. Tibim," he said.

In a recent interview, Babu said the word Tibim takes different meanings, depending on the context used.

"After finishing prayers you say 'Tibim' and the devil comes out running. In the political life, it means a political revolution," he said.

Babu's Thursday theatric is reminiscent of the swearing-in of MPs after the disputed 2007 general elections, when former Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba swore in Raila's name instead of then President Mwai Kibaki's as he took oath.